How will Texas help Harvey-ravaged communities?
State leaders have all thrown support behind tapping the rainy day fund to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery. But a year and a half after the storm, they haven't offered many specifics. Full Story
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![Debris from Hurricane Harvey is piled high at the Pines Condominiums near the Buffalo Bayou in the Memorial area of Houston on Sept. 13, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
This Texas program lands poor people in jail. Getting rid of it has been too complicated — but that might be changing.
Lawmakers in both chambers and parties want to fix the controversial Driver Responsibility Program, but the program funds state trauma centers. Where will they find $144 million to fill the gap? Full Story
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![Law enforcement officials, at a traffic stop, filmed during a Peaceful Streets Project cop watch on Apr. 24, 2015. Photo: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez for the Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez for The Texas Tribune -
Special election runoff to replace Carol Alvarado in Texas House to be held March 5
Voters will decide the successor to former state Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, who was elected to the Texas Senate in December. Full Story
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![Melissa Noriega and Christina Morales. Jan 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Thousands of Texans were shocked by surprise medical bills. Their requests for help overwhelmed the state.
“It’s going to take us a while to get out of this backlog that we’re in, but we’re doing the things necessary to help more consumers,” a state official said. Full Story
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![Francisco Garcia arrives at Kelsey-Seybold clinic in Sugar Land to see his doctor Spencer Berthelsen for annual physical. Sept. 22, 2011.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Days after heated meeting, Texas Senate property tax committee passes 2.5-percent rollback rate bill
The Senate panel's vote came despite fierce pushback from city and county leaders, who say a lower election threshold on increased property tax revenues could hamstring their budgets. Full Story
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![The Senate Property Tax Committee Hearing on Feb. 6, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The challenge of reining in property taxes at no cost to schools
A Texas Senate committee is moving rapidly to require voter approval for local property tax increases over 2.5 percent. But some want to see the Legislature's school finance bill before they vote on property taxes. Full Story
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![Property Tax committee Chairman and state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, during the Senate Property Tax Committee Hearing on on Feb. 6, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Texas AG Ken Paxton says his office hasn't launched criminal investigations of voters flagged for citizenship review
Some lawmakers had fretted that sending the preliminary, faulty list to the state's top prosecutor would intimidate voters. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to gun owners at the Republican Party of Texas convention in San Antonio on June 15, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
With eager candidates waiting in the wings, Texas Supreme Court slot sits open
An appointment to the high court would require a two-thirds confirmation vote, potentially handing Texas Senate Democrats an important bargaining chip in the contentious legislative debates to come. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hect speaks during the hearing of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice v. Maurie Levin, et al. case on Jan. 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Corporations can’t donate to politicians. But $100,000 got them VIP treatment during Gov. Greg Abbott’s inauguration.
Donations to the inauguration are not deemed political contributions under state statute. And the inaugural committee, whose creation is mandated by law, is not required to make financial disclosures before this summer. Full Story
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![Air Force fighter planes fly over the state capitol during the Oath of Office Ceremony. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Governor Greg Abbott were sworn into their respective offices. Jan. 15, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
"This is very personal to us": Santa Fe survivors are expecting results from the Texas Legislature
After last year's massacre at Santa Fe High School, survivors told lawmakers the school safety measures they want to see enacted during this year's legislative session. How many of them will become law? Full Story
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![Flo Rice, 56, poses for a portrait in her home in Santa Fe, TX. Rice was shot in her legs at a school shooting in Santa Fe that left 10 dead and 13 injured, and now advocates for more school safety and emergency training for substitute teachers.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht calls for nonpartisan judicial elections, bail reform
In the wake of a midterm election that saw four major state appeals courts flip on partisan lines, Hecht called on lawmakers to consider changing Texas to a system of merit selection and retention elections. Full Story
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![Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht speaks at the State of the Judiciary at the Capitol. Feb. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A State of the State address that’s short on surprises, long on collaboration
What Texas Gov. Greg Abbott didn't say in Tuesday's State of the State speech was important. School finance and property taxes were the big issues before the speech — and Abbott didn't stray from those subjects. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses state officials at the State of the State address in the House Chambers at the State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he's willing to work to revive the UT, A&M football game
The Texas governor made the declaration during his annual State of the State address. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses state officials at the State of the State address in the House Chambers at the State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019. He's accompanied by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott names school finance, property tax reform emergency items
The governor focused on bread-and-butter policy in a forum that has often featured a lot of red meat. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses members of the Texas legislature and judiciary at his State of the State address in the House chambers at the Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Watch Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's State of the State address
Abbott stayed on message about education and taxes, and touched on school safety, disaster response and mental health programs. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses attendees at the Oath of Office Ceremony on the state Capitol grounds on Jan. 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking more power this session to prosecute voter fraud and abortion-related crimes
Paxton's office has asked lawmakers for millions more in funding and expanded jurisdiction to go after certain crimes. Critics say the requests are aimed at political gains. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas optometrists "just roll our eyes" over treatment restrictions in the state
Amid what some call an eye care crisis, Texas optometrists are hoping the Legislature will give them more power to help patients without needing other doctors. But ophthalmologists say allowing optometrists more power would put patients' vision at risk. Full Story
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![Dr. Noor Abushagur uses a slit lamp, a microscope used to examine the inner and outer structures of the eye, to make sure Eliecer Arce's retina looks normal. He originally came in with severe swelling, unable to see and was diagnosed with Vogt Koyanagi Harada (VKH), an auto immune condition. Dec 4, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Naturalized citizen flagged in Texas voter citizenship review joins lawsuit against state
Atascosa County resident Julie Hilberg — a naturalized citizen whose registration was flagged by the state — is joining a lawsuit against top Texas officials. Full Story
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Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas leaders want voters to OK property tax revenue growth over 2.5 percent. They couldn't get 4 percent in 2017.
The leaders of both legislative chambers say they will be united this year — even if cities and counties push back — and that local officials should come to Austin with solutions in hand if they don't like new proposals. Full Story
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![From left: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Gov. Greg Abbott; House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton; and Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speak at a Jan 31, 2019, news conference addressing property tax reform.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Former Texas Republican Party chair leaving White House to work on John Cornyn's campaign
Steve Munisteri is headed home to help Texas' senior U.S. senator in his 2020 re-election bid. Full Story
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![Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, speaks to the press. Jan. 30, 2015.]()
Credit: Justin Dehn/The Texas Tribune